Automotive Forums

BTW the jumper is connected with the key in the off position, after the jumper(paperclip) is inserted you cycle the key to the on position but dont start. LET THE LIGHTS BEGIN!!  

Hey I got a '91 Accord...and I'm having a really strange problem. I recently changed my timing/counter balance shaft belts and after I reinstalled the alternator, after running for a short time it would squeal and become very hot. After a new alternator and battery, we realized it does charge for a short time, reaches a certain voltage(around 12.9), then starts dropping off and the squealing concurrently starts. We are pretty stumped by this problem, not believing it to be a dead ground, because it does charge at first. Any help/suggestions would really be appreciated.  

It might be the new "gasoline". I think it they are trying to force all the old cars off of the road with it.  

is it the belts squeling or alternator?  squeling is usally from the belts not being tight enough and its slipping rubber on metal tighten the belts more through your alternator i believe.  

hmm, i'll try that. still doesnt explain it heating up though, does it?  

I have this same problem with my 98 accord. The first time I took it to the dealership they replaced the main relay. I thought it was fixed until the next morning it wouldn't start.So back to the dealership it went. They kept it for 3 days,and said it started up fine for them everyday....Said that they hooked it up to diagnostics and "all systems checked""unable to duplicate problem at this time". So, I got it back,and them next 3 mornings it wouldn't start for me. The dealership has now had it for another 3 days, and it starts fine for them everytime.I just don't get it. It only seems to not start in the mornings around 7 am...or when the dealer has it. I've searched many forums to find a solution to the problem, Most say main relay...which didn't work for  mine.One thing I've noticed is that it's a VERY common problem....I thought honda's were reliable.WTF!!! This thread http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/1998-honda-accord-dont-start-223.html
has been viewed like 17,685 times! Is there that many people w/ the intermittant no start problem???  

I've gone through the famous "gee it won't start, oop wait a sec now it does start" problem with both a 90 and a 93 Accord. The fix for me was easy in both cases... free in fact. Both cars had problems with their Main Relays - but problems that were User Repairable by anyone owning a cheap run-of-the-mill soldering iron and some solder. (also a magnafying glass for ppl with poor sight)

The best advice I can offer anyone is to read the well written explanation below, because it's pretty well a "Fixing Yer Main Relay for Dummies" kinda walkthrough. Any words from me would pale by comparison.

http://www.marklamond.co.uk/tech-honda/pgm-fi/main-relay/main-relay.htm

If by chance you don't like what you read in the link above, or for some reason it's broken, then I suggest you google a search of "repair honda main relay". You'll be impressed by the results.

Good luck all!

P.S. I didn't have time to read this entire thread, so I apologize if someone else has already supplied the answer.  

Sounds like you have spent a ton of money already, without fixing anything.  Please invest a few $$$ wisely and buy a manual that gives step by step diagnostic routines, AND FOLLOW THEM.  This will lead you to the proper diagnosis, if you have proper test equipment, and can use it correctly.  Probably would have been cheaper to take this to a professional technician up front, rather than wasting so much time and *** and you still have a car that does not run right.  

I have a 1999 Accord Ex.  It was dying intermittently now will not start at all.  Car turns over, starts & dies immeditately.  It has about 155,000 miles.  Any ideas?  

My son has a 1991 accord.  At times his car will not start either.  The first time it did not start, we thought is was the fuel pump.  He waited awhile and tried again and then it started.  We asked a family friend, who is a mechanic, about this issue.  He told us to take the distributor cap off and clean the small seal inside becuase oil will leak around it and cause the car not to start.    I am not sure if this is your problem, but it is worth a try and does not cost anything to try.  

I read several suggestions from this site and others to get ideas on how to solve my sometimes start to no start 94 Honda accord.  From what I gathered, most folks start with the main relay because it is very common culpret with starting problems in hondas.  I had to have it towed and the dealer couldn't find the problem --- of course it started for them.  

If your a mechanically inclined there is a way to diagnois the relay:  http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/aa010301a.htm    On my problem, I gambled and bet it was the main relay and fortunately it was.  On mine, I found a main relay for around $68.  Location was underneath the steering column -- I removed the panel and then 4 bolts supporting a metal plate.  Got on my back and looked up above the accelorator and found it -- on mine it was orange on the bottom (that's what you could see.  The side was gray.  From what I read, earlier models it's above the brake.  It was mounted on braket - you could slide it off.  I unplugged it, installed a new one and it worked perfect.  The relay is tied to the ignition, fuel pump, and other electrical components.  The contacts often go bad -- I've read where some folks even solder to correct the existing relay.  Not always the fix, very common problem in hondas and I'd start there.  

I thought that I may find some help when it came to the whole car not wanting to start but then deciding it would finally start deal but *** a lot of people have this problem.  It sounds as if it is the main relay in most cases especially after hearing how temperature can affect the main relay (I live in Florida and it sucks) (temperature affecting main relay on http://www.marklamond.co.uk/tech-honda/pgm-fi/main-relay/main-relay.htm).  Hopefully I will be able to solve the problem.

THANKS TO ALL FOR POSTING EV'RETHING  

i'd hate to keep adding problems on this thread and not creating my own thread like dassault did but a lot of people with older accords and well i have this problem with my 2dr 91 coupe w/ 92 ex engine. well my car's engine seens to heat up when its a hot day and i have the a/c on. It even overheated once when i had like 60 bricks in the truck and the car was idleing in the driveway as i emptied the trunk of the bricks. it just overheated as i left. well now im scared to turn the a.c on in the hotter of days. i checked my engine coolant (full), fan (working), and well i dont know what to do. right i only have my learners so i dont drive much but when i have my license i dont want the day to be cooler just so i can drive. does anyone know what the problem could be?  

also has anyone tried any of the generic ebay intakes? do they work? easy install? any input appreciated  

ANYONE THAT HAS A PROBLEM WITH THERE 90-93 HONDA ACCORD AND IT WONT START IN HOT WEATHER AND THEN YOU WAIT A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN IT WILL START. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REPLACE THE MAIN RELAY UNDER THE STERING COLUMN OR TAKE IT OUT AND USE A SOLDERING IRON AND FIX ALL THE METAL BUBBLES ON THE CHIP BOARD ON THE RELAY. PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED I PROMISE AND GOOD LUCK WITH IT.